Stamford National hits six homers to eliminate Seymour

Emery Filmer

Updated 10:26 pm, Thursday, July 18, 2013

Stamford National shortstop Shane Hackett dives for a ball during a Little League Section 1 playoff game against Seymour played at Chestnut Hill Park, Stamford, CT on Thursday July 18th 2013.
Photo: Mark Conrad

Stamford National shortstop Shane Hackett dives for a ball during a...

Stamford National pitcher Nick Melia on the mound during a Little League Section 1 playoff game against Seymour played at Chestnut Hill Park, Stamford, CT on Thursday July 18th 2013.
Photo: Mark Conrad

Stamford National pitcher Nick Melia on the mound during a Little...

Stamford National shortstop Shane Hackett gets Seymour's Zack Edwards out at second and throws to first to try to complete a double play during a Little League Section 1 playoff game played at Chestnut Hill Park, Stamford, CT on Thursday July 18th 2013.
Photo: Mark Conrad

Stamford National shortstop Shane Hackett gets Seymour's Zack...

Stamford National's Liam Nicholson rounds first after hitting the game winning home run against Seymour in a Little League Section 1 playoff game played at Chestnut Hill Park, Stamford, CT on Thursday July 18th 2013.

Photo: Mark Conrad

Stamford National's Liam Nicholson rounds first after hitting the...

Stamford National's Joe Skarad fields an infield groundball and throws to first to try and get the runner out during a Little League Section 1 playoff game against Seymour played at Chestnut Hill Park, Stamford, CT on Thursday July 18th 2013.
Photo: Mark Conrad

Stamford National's Joe Skarad fields an infield groundball and...

Stamford National against Seymour in a Little League Section 1 playoff game played at Chestnut Hill Park, Stamford, CT on Thursday July 18th 2013.
Photo: Mark Conrad

Stamford National against Seymour in a Little League Section 1...

Stamford National's Joel Lopez gets mobbed by teammates after coming into score after hitting a home run during a Little League Section 1 playoff game against Seymour played at Chestnut Hill Park, Stamford, CT on Thursday July 18th 2013.

Photo: Mark Conrad

Stamford National's Joel Lopez gets mobbed by teammates after...

Seymour's Riley Johnson and some spectators watch as Stamford National's Joel Lopez's home run ball goes over the outfield fence during a Little League Section 1 playoff game played at Chestnut Hill Park, Stamford, CT on Thursday July 18th 2013.
Photo: Mark Conrad

Seymour's Riley Johnson and some spectators watch as Stamford...

Stamford National's Mike Cardona slides into second during a Little League Section 1 playoff game against Seymour played at Chestnut Hill Park, Stamford, CT on Thursday July 18th 2013.
Photo: Mark Conrad

Stamford National's Mike Cardona slides into second during a Little...

Stamford National's Tevin St John rounds third and gets congratulated by coach Kevin Hackett after hitting a home run during a Little League Section 1 playoff game against Seymour played at Chestnut Hill Park, Stamford, CT on Thursday July 18th 2013.
Photo: Mark Conrad

Stamford National's Tevin St John rounds third and gets...

Stamford National against Seymour in a Little League Section 1 playoff game played at Chestnut Hill Park, Stamford, CT on Thursday July 18th 2013.
Photo: Mark Conrad

Stamford National against Seymour in a Little League Section 1...

Stamford National against Seymour in a Little League Section 1 playoff game played at Chestnut Hill Park, Stamford, CT on Thursday July 18th 2013.
Photo: Mark Conrad

Stamford National against Seymour in a Little League Section 1...

Stamford National against Seymour in a Little League Section 1 playoff game played at Chestnut Hill Park, Stamford, CT on Thursday July 18th 2013.
Photo: Mark Conrad

Stamford National against Seymour in a Little League Section 1...

Stamford National against Seymour in a Little League Section 1 playoff game played at Chestnut Hill Park, Stamford, CT on Thursday July 18th 2013.
Photo: Mark Conrad

Stamford National against Seymour in a Little League Section 1...

Stamford National against Seymour in a Little League Section 1 playoff game played at Chestnut Hill Park, Stamford, CT on Thursday July 18th 2013.
Photo: Mark Conrad

Stamford National against Seymour in a Little League Section 1...

Stamford National against Seymour in a Little League Section 1 playoff game played at Chestnut Hill Park, Stamford, CT on Thursday July 18th 2013.
Photo: Mark Conrad

Stamford National against Seymour in a Little League Section 1...

Stamford National against Seymour in a Little League Section 1 playoff game played at Chestnut Hill Park, Stamford, CT on Thursday July 18th 2013.
Photo: Mark Conrad

Stamford National against Seymour in a Little League Section 1...

Stamford National against Seymour in a Little League Section 1 playoff game played at Chestnut Hill Park, Stamford, CT on Thursday July 18th 2013.
Photo: Mark Conrad

Stamford National against Seymour in a Little League Section 1...

Stamford National against Seymour in a Little League Section 1 playoff game played at Chestnut Hill Park, Stamford, CT on Thursday July 18th 2013.
Photo: Mark Conrad

Stamford National against Seymour in a Little League Section 1...

Stamford National against Seymour in a Little League Section 1 playoff game played at Chestnut Hill Park, Stamford, CT on Thursday July 18th 2013.
Photo: Mark Conrad

STAMFORD -- Stamford National Little League manager Kevin Hackett looked as if his team was heading to Williamsport after its 11-1 victory over Seymour Thursday. But it was merely a State Sectional Tournament losers' bracket game.

And the reason for his mood? Oh, how about a wonderful pitching performance by Nick Melia and six home runs by his team.

"We really took it to them," Hackett said after his team rebounded from a 23-10 defeat to Edgewood Wednesday. "I'm not surprised how we came out, especially with the bats."

Hackett did indeed have reason to smile as his team stayed alive and earned a spot in Friday's losers' bracket semifinal against none other than Edgewood (7 p.m. at Bill Terry Field in Wilton). But before Hackett left Chestnut Hill Park, the reality of the situation came into focus. For the Stamford Nats to win this tournament and advance to the state finals, they must win four games in six days ... and only once with Melia pitching.

"We have our work cut out for us," he said after the game ended early due to the 10-run mercy rule. "We have to win four in a row, and three without Nick (on the mound). It's going to be difficult."

First the good news. Melia pitched four innings, allowed two hits, no earned runs while striking out seven. Melia, who can't pitch until Tuesday, was 3-for-3 with a pair of home runs, giving him four in the last two games.

"I rely on our offense and I don't have to throw as hard with the offense I have behind me," Melia said. "To bounce back like this, it shows we're hungry."

The Nats had 11 hits, six of them home runs. Melia and Liam Nicholson had two each and Joel Lopez and Tevin St. John also went yard. Nicholson had four RBI, Melia had three and Lopez had two hits. They've scored 55 runs in their last five games.

"They sure hit the ball," Seymour manager Art Davis said. "I thought with our 3-4-5 hitters (1-for-5 with a walk), we'd be able to keep up with them, but Melia throws hard and our kids aren't used to seeing that kind of gas."

OK, now the bad news. The Nats have to win Friday, Sunday, and then Tuesday and Wednesday to reach the state finals. Melia can pitch Tuesday, but that's it. For the record, the Nats have allowed 43 runs in their last five games, 40 against pitchers other than Melia.

"We have the pitchers to do it," Hackett said. "We don't want it to end."

Melia's two-run homer made it 2-0 in the first inning. Zion Smith's RBI groundout stretched the lead to three in the second. After Austin Verab's RBI single for Seymour cut it to 3-1 in the third, the Nats flexed their muscles in the final two innings. Nicholson, Lopez and St. John hit home runs in the six-run third before Melia and Nicholson went back-to-back in the fourth to end it.

Stamford National 11, Seymour 1 (4)

SEYMOUR 001 0--1 2 1

STAMFORD NATIONAL 216 2--11 11 1

Records: Seymour 0-2, Stamford National 1-1. Batteries: S--Austin DeRosa (L), Joey Chacho (3) and Austin Verab; SN--Nick Melia (W) and Liam Nicholson, Joe Skarad. Highlights: S--Chacho singled and scored, Verab had an RBI single; SN--Nick Melia had three hits including a home run, and three RBI, Melia allowed two hits and no earned runs in four innings while striking out seven, Nicholson had two home runs and four RBI, Joel Lopez had two hits including a home run, Tevin St. John had a home run.